Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes I will but I am entitled to rebut that statement. On the third occasion, tá sé connected leis an rúd a duirt mo chara thall ansin. He said the third time was when Brian Cowen and Brian Lenihan - we will not castigate any individual, decent people - put us in economic bondage. We are faced with a task and I think we are doing it honourably. We have a proud tradition in politics on this island.

I received an e-mail the other day from a gentleman in Monkstown who stated he looked forward to the abolition of the Seanad. He said that our dysfunctional system now has two Chambers, the Seanad and the Dáil and they propose in the future that there will just be the Dáil, in other words we are to drop the part of the system that is irrelevant while being left with the part that ruined us. I did reply to him. I suppose that is a fair categorisation of the mood of the people although it may not be the reality.

There is no doubt that if the Seanad is to be abolished the Dáil needs to be reformed. I congratulate the Taoiseach and the Government in the steps it has taken on Dáil reform. They will preview, consider and review legislation in expert committees comprised of Deputies and outside experts. I would give that four out of ten but it is a suggestion.